Rating: 3/5
Review:
Atmospheric but flawed
The Black Dahlia has had lots of rave reviews, but although it is
very well written I thought it was quite badly flawed.
Set in late-1940s
L.A., the story is told by Bucky Bleichart, a cop who becomes
involved in and then obsessed by the sickeningly horrible murder of a
young woman who comes to be known as The Back Dahlia. It’s a
convoluted tale of corruption, brutality and of Bleichart’s near
breakdown as his behaviour becomes more and more extreme in pursuit
of his obsession. The period and the atmosphere are very well done,
and Ellroy doesn’t flinch from describing sickening violence and
brutality, nor from the language and attitudes of the time. I think
this is quite justified, but the homophobia, sexism, racism,
anti-Semitism and pretty well any other -ism you can think of are
starkly portrayed in language which today is quite shocking.
It’s very well
done and extremely atmospheric. My problem is that I didn’t find
the story and the motivations, including Bleichart’s behaviour,
very convincing. I thought the first third or so was very good but
the book seemed over-long and poorly structured and, frankly, I was
glad to finally get to the end.
So, I’m a rather
dissenting voice. I can see the book’s merits, but I have some
pretty strong reservations and I’m not sure I’ll be going back
for more of this quartet.
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